Control means for forced concrete systems



Oct. 12, 1965 G. A. LovEALL, JR., ETAL 3,211,337

CONTROL MEANS FOR FORCED CONCRETE SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 falen/EVS Oct. l2, 1965 G. A. LovEALL, JR., ETAL 3,211,337

CONTROL MEANS FOR FORCED CONCRETE SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 2', 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,211,337 CNTRL MEANS FUR FORCED CONCRETE SYSTEMS George A. Loveall, Jr., and Donald F. Heath, Waterloo,

Iowa, assignors to Engineered Equipment Inc., Waterloo, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed J an. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,267 Claims. (Cl. 222-61) Forced concrete equipment is generally comprised of a motor-powered rotor that meters a dry cement substance into a pneumatic air line or hose where the concrete is carried to a discharge nozzle. Water is introduced into the concrete at the nozzle and the moist and plastic concrete is then ejected or sprayed onto the desired surface. The rotors are powered by either 'electric or gasoline motors, and the supply of air is provided by an auxiliary iai-r compressor. The operator often does no-t have effective control means to shut off the supply of material to the supply hose if the source of .air fails. S-im-ilarly, control of the system is lost if the operator inadvertently drops the nozzle during the spraying operation.

Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide a control me-ans for forced concrete systems wherein the operator of the system can exer-t maximum control over th-e supply of material or .air even though he is remotely located from the machine by being positioned at the end of the supply hose.

A further object of this invention is to provide a control means for forced concrete systems wher-ein a switch must be manually closed at the nozzle to effect the continued movement 4of material through the hose.

A still further obj-ect of this invention is to provide a control means for force-d concrete systems that will permit momentary ow of mate-rial through the supply hose even though the actuation of the primary control element is momentarily interrupted.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a control means for forced concrete systems that requires the air supply to be operation-al before the material can be metered into the air supply hose.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a control means` for -forced concrete systems that will automatically stop the power source for the material supplying rotor if the air supply fail-s.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Our invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the general components of this invention showing the concrete supplying machine, the material supply hose, and the operator;

`FIGURE 2 is a `simplified schematic wiring diagram of the electrical control system of a machine wherein the rotor is powered by a gasoline motor; and

.FIGURE 3 is a wiring diagram similar to that of FIG- URE 2 except that it shows the machine and rotor powered by an electrical motor.

The numeral generally designates an electric-powered machine having a frame 12 and supporting wheels 14. Electric motor 16 is operatively connected to a rotor (not shown) within housing 18. A material supply hopper 20 is located above housing 18 and is adapted to supply the dry cement material to the rotor. An air line 22 lis connected to an auxiliary air compressor (not shown) and is also secured to air pressure regulator 24 on machine 1l), Air valve 26 and hose 28 connect regulator 24 to the housing 22 at the top of the rotor. Air is intermit- 3,Zll,337 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 ICC tently ejected through the rotor to blow material into the material supply hose 30. This general :structure is discussed land described in Patent No. 3,076,5 which issued February 5, 1963.

A nozzle 32 is secu-red to the outer end of hose 3l) and a water line 33 is connected thereto and is controlled through valve 34. A dead-man switch 36, to be discussed hereafter, is secured to the nozzle 32. A control switch box 3S is supported by any convenient means and is located in the close proximity of the operator 40. Switch box 38 will be discussed hereafter.

l-n FIGURE 3, the lead 42 connects a source of electrical energy with a solenoid-controlled valve 44 which is secured between primary air line 22 and air pressure regulator 24. The contact points of valve 44 are norm-ally open and are held closed by the air pressure in line 22. Valve 44 can be any one of several commercially available valves of conventional construction and it does not, per se, constitute a part lof this invention. The valve may conventionally include a stationary conta-ct point and a contact point on a movable spring loaded piston which is responsive to air pressure in line 22. Operating pressure in line 22 will force the movable piston against the spring whereupon the contact points can become engaged. Lead 46 connects one side of valve 44 with the other side of the deadman switch 36 which is normally lopen and which must be held closed by the operator. Lead 50 connects the other -side of switch 36 -to the coil 52 of a delay relay 54, which is thereupon connected to ground. The delay relay switch 56 has one side connected to lead 46 by lead 57 and the other side thereof is connected by lead 58 to the air control switch 60 in switch box 38. Air switch 60 is normally open and must be manually moved to a closed position by the operator before the operation begins. Lead 61 connects one of the closed terminals of switch 60 with the solenoid actuated air valve 26, and valve 26 is then connected to ground.

yLead 62 connects one of the closed terminals of switch 60 with a closed terminal of the normally open material control switch 64 which is also located in switch box 38. The other side of the closed position of switch 64 is connected by lead 66 to one side of the windings of electric motor 16. Lead 68 connects the other side of the motor windings to the other side of the electrical power source.

The wiring diagram of FIGURE 2, which pertains to a gasoline operated mach-ine 10, .is ident-ical to that of FIGURE 3 except in the following particulars. A lead 70 connects one side of the closed position of material switch 64 with an auxiliary solenoid controlled air valve 72, which in turn is connected to ground. Valve 72 is imposed in an air line 74 which is connected in any convenient manner to air line 22 or hose 28. The valve 72 is normally closed and opens upon actu-ation to permit the flow of air through line 74 into one end of cylinder 76. The piston rod means 78 of cylinder 76 then reacts to this influx of air and moves outwardly to move linkage 80, which in turn operatively engages clutch 82. Clutch 82 serves to connect the rotor with a source of mechanical power from the gasoline motor (not shown) to effect the delivery of material to the air hose 30. The source of electrical power is delivered to valve 44 through line 42A from battery 84.

Air valves 26, 6l) and 64 are of conventional construction and do not of themselves constitute a part of this invention. All can include an electrical solenoid which will, upon being electrically excited, open or close an air valve in the manner indicated. Valve 26 preferably has the coil of its solenoid wired directly to line 61, and valves 60 and 64 differ therefrom only in that conventional push buttons in switch box 38 must be manually 4actuated to permit the solenoids therein to have electrical communication with the related circuits. An air valve of the general character of valves 26, 60 and 64 is disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,033,299.

The normal operation of the device of this invention is as follows: The auxiliary air compressor is started to deliver a supply of compressed air to line 22. This causes valve 44 to close automatically. Air valve 60 is then manually closed by the operator, who may also close material switch 64 at the same time or subsequently. When the operation is to begin, the deadman switch 36 is then held manually closed, and contnol of air and material rests in this switch. The closing of the switch 36 causes the switch S6 of delay relay 54 to close. Air solenoid switch 26 is then opened through closed switch 60 and lead 61, and the compressed air from line 22 then moves through hose 28 and the rotor, to pass into and through supply hose 30. The closed condition of material switch 64 will either start the electric motor 16 (or actuate clutch 82 in the manner described above) to effect rotational power to the rotor, whereupon material will be delivered to the supply hose 30.

If the operator momentarily drops nozzle 32 or his hand slips from deadman switch 36, the delay relay 54 will hold for approximately 3 seconds to maintain the system. However, if the switch 36 is not again immediately closed, the relay switch 56 will open, and switches 60 and 64 will become dead. The elimination of power to switch 60 will cause air control valve 26 to close and withdraw air from the hoses 28 and 30. The withdrawal of power from switch 64 will similarly withdraw power from the rotor in the manner described above. Similarly, any loss of air pressure in line 22 w-ill cause valve 44 to open which will cut down the functional operation of the unit even though the deadman switch 36 is closed.

To close the system down, the operator will normally open switch 64 to shut ofi the supply of material but will allow the air flow to continue to void the supply hose of material. The switch 60 can then be opened and the oper-ation is then terminated. Obviously water is supplied in the manner described during the actual spraying operation.

From the foregoing, it is seen that this device will accomplish at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may 'be made in the construction and arrangement of our control means for forced concrete systems without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim:

1. In a means for applying forced concrete,

a material supply unit having a material metering means,

a power unit therefor, and a supply hose connected thereto,

hose means for connecting a source of compressed air into said supply hose,

an electrically actuated control operatively connected to said power unit,

an electrically controlled valve imposed in said hose means,

Aan air pressure valve imposed in said hose means and having an electrical switch therein which is normally open `but which is closed by a predetermined amount of air pressure in said hose means,

a nozzle on the end of said supply hose remote from said material supply unit,

a first switch on said -nozzle being electrically connected :to the switch in said air pressure valve,

said first switch being normally open, and being electrically connected to a second switch adjacent said nozzle,

said second switch being electrically connected to said electrically controlled valve in said hose means,

a third switch adjacent said nozzle and being electrically connected in series to said second switch,

said third switch being electrically connect-ed to said electrically actuated control of said power unit,

and a source of electrical energy being connected to the laforesaid electrical components through the switch in said air pressure valve.

2. The means for applying forced concrete of claim 1 wherein a time delay relay control switch is imposed between said tirst and second switches.

3. In a means for applying forced concrete,

a material supply unit having a material metering means, a power unit therefor, and a supply hose connected thereto,

hose means for connecting a source of compressed air into said supply hose,

an electrically actuated control operatively connected to said power un-it,

an electrically controlled valve imposed in said hose means,

an air pressure valve imposed in said hose means and having an electrical switch therein which is normally open but which is closed by a predetermined amount of air pressure in said hose means,

a nozzle on the end of said supply hose remote from said material supply unit,

a switch adjacent said nozzle and being electrically connected to said electrically controlled valve in said hose means,

a further switch adjacent said nozzle and being elecitrically connected in series to said first mentioned switch,

said last mentioned switch being electrically connected to said electrically actuated control of said power unit,

and a source of electrical energy being connected to the aforesaid electrical components through the switch in said air pressure valve.

4. The means for app-lying forced concrete of claim 2 wherein said power unit is an electrical motor.

5. The means for applying forced concrete of claim 2 wherein said power unit is an internal combustion engine which is operatively connect-ed to said material metering means by a clutch mechanism, said clutch mechanism being operatively connected by an air actuated power unit connected to a source of compressed air by said electrically actuated control.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/42 Colburn 222-194 X 4/43 Colburn 222-194 X 

1. IN A MEANS FOR APPLYING FORCED CONCRETE, A MATERIAL SUPPLY UNIT HAVING A MATERIAL METERING MEANS, A POWER UNIT THEREFOR, AND A SUPPLY HOSE CONNECTED THERETO, HOSE MEANS FOR CONNECTING A SOURCE OF COMPRESSED AIR INTO SAID SUPPLY HOSE, AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED CONTROL OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID POWER UNIT, AN ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE IMPOSED IN SAID HOSE MEANS, AN AIR PRESSURE VALVE IMPOSED IN SAID HOSE MEANS AND HAVING AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH THEREIN WHICH IS NORMALLY OPEN BUT WHICH IS CLOSED BY A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF AIR PRESSURE IN SAID HOSE MEANS, A NOZZLE ON THE END OF SAID SUPPLY HOSE REMOTE FROM SAID MATERIAL SUPPLY UNIT, 